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As part of the celebration of the centennial of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, the NCHSAA has released the first list of its “100 To

Remember” series.The list of “100 To Remember: Administrators” highlights one hundred of the top administrators in NCHSAA history, going back to the founding of the organization in 1913.Among those honored are former Watauga High Athletic Director and football coach Jack Groce, and Ashe County Athletic Director Marc Payne. Ironically, Payne succeeded Groce as AD at WHS in 1989. Those two combined led the WHS athletic department for 27 years. A special committee, including school administrators and coaches from across the state as well as sports media, put together the list in a series of meetings.Many people made nominations for the lists on the NCHSAA web site. Association records and archives were also consulted, as well as members of the committee offering names for discussion. Administrators included athletic directors, principals, superintendents or others involved with the administration of athletics at a local or statewide level.“Coming up with a list of ‘100 To Remember’ was a tremendous challenge,” said Davis Whitfield, commissioner of the NCHSAA. “So many individuals have participated, coached or been involved with the rich history and tradition of the first 100 years of the NCHSAA. This group of distinguished individuals not only served their schools, school systems and communities in an exceptional fashion, but our Association as well.”During the 2013 year in which the 100th anniversary is celebrated by the NCHSAA, other “100 To Remember” lists will be released, including coaches, female athletes and male athletes. The development of the lists and the discussions certainly fit in with the slogan for the centennial: “Honoring the Past, Embracing the Present and Shaping the Future.All of the 100th anniversary lists will be posted in the NCHSAA website under the special 100th portal.

NCHSAA CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Jack Groce WataugaNever experienced a losing season during 20-year career as a head football coach at Appalachian High (1955-65) and Watauga (1972-76)…served as athletic director and assistant principal at Watauga from 1977 to ’90, followed by two years as county athletic director…former president of the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association and served a four-year term on the NCHSAA Board of Directors…inducted into the North Carolina Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 1996 and selected for the NCHSAA Hall in 2001.

Marc Payne Ashe CountyOver 35 years as a high school head basketball coach… coaching stints included time at Beaver Creek, Watauga and Ashe…also served as the athletic director at Watauga and Ashe…served on the board of directors for the North Carolina Coaches Association, NCHSAA and North Carolina Athletic Director’s Association.